L46 sexing...

[phreeflow]

Nice pickup...congrats! I also breed zebras and I agree, you’ll have to wait until 2.5” to make a better guess. Even then, it’s a toss up. I’ve been fooled plenty of times by fat males that look like females, thinner females, hairier females, etc. There are always some that are very obviously male and female but that’s not always the case.

Also, the males can lose or regrow odontodes depending on the season and conditions, which further complicates matters. At the peak of breeding season, the adult males will get very hairy but during the off season, they tend to show less odontodes on their pectorals.

The best way I’ve found to sex them is by behavior. Females tend to go into the caves tail first with their head pointing out, while males tend to go head first. This isn’t always the case, though it is most of the times. I have an alpha female that goes head in but the other females do not. The males will always take over a specific cave and will be very territorial about it while the females hop from cave to cave. Overall, however, the females tend not to cave much at all and hang out besides or on top of caves or under driftwood.

You’ll have to factor all the behaviors and external differences to increase your odds of sexing them.

 

[Orthopod]

Nice pickup...congrats! I also breed zebras and I agree, you’ll have to wait until 2.5” to make a better guess. Even then, it’s a toss up. I’ve been fooled plenty of times by fat males that look like females, thinner females, hairier females, etc. There are always some that are very obviously male and female but that’s not always the case.

Also, the males can lose or regrow odontodes depending on the season and conditions, which further complicates matters. At the peak of breeding season, the adult males will get very hairy but during the off season, they tend to show less odontodes on their pectorals.

The best way I’ve found to sex them is by behavior. Females tend to go into the caves tail first with their head pointing out, while males tend to go head first. This isn’t always the case, though it is most of the times. I have an alpha female that goes head in but the other females do not. The males will always take over a specific cave and will be very territorial about it while the females hop from cave to cave. Overall, however, the females tend not to cave much at all and hang out besides or on top of caves or under driftwood.

You’ll have to factor all the behaviors and external differences to increase your odds of sexing them.

Appreciate the advice and input. Thanks so much.

 

[TwoTankAmin]

I have worked with zebras since early 2006. I rely more on behavior than anything else to sex them. But that becomes difficult when works with groups. The one pretty much fail-safe way to sex them it by getting their tubes out. I do this by moving each fish into a 2.5 gal tank balanced on its rim so I can shoot a picture from underneath as well as from the top and side. The water in the photo tank needs to be cooler than their home tank. This should get the tubes down if they are over 2 inches.

There are a couple of clues in terms of the tubes. The male's will be pointy, almost V shaped. Often there will be a black spot towards the tail where the tube comes out. The female will have a blob shaped tube. Basically, she has to pass eggs out while all he does is squirt sperm.

 

[phreeflow]

I have worked with zebras since early 2006. I rely more on behavior than anything else to sex them. But that becomes difficult when works with groups. The one pretty much fail-safe way to sex them it by getting their tubes out. I do this by moving each fish into a 2.5 gal tank balanced on its rim so I can shoot a picture from underneath as well as from the top and side. The water in the photo tank needs to be cooler than their home tank. This should get the tubes down if they are over 2 inches.

There are a couple of clues in terms of the tubes. The male's will be pointy, almost V shaped. Often there will be a black spot towards the tail where the tube comes out. The female will have a blob shaped tube. Basically, she has to pass eggs out while all he does is squirt sperm.

I would definitely take TwoTankAmin’s advice...that guy knows that he’s talking about. I learned a lot from him on PlanetCatfish when I first got my zebra group years ago and am only successfully breeding them due to his advice

 

[Orthopod]

I have worked with zebras since early 2006. I rely more on behavior than anything else to sex them. But that becomes difficult when works with groups. The one pretty much fail-safe way to sex them it by getting their tubes out. I do this by moving each fish into a 2.5 gal tank balanced on its rim so I can shoot a picture from underneath as well as from the top and side. The water in the photo tank needs to be cooler than their home tank. This should get the tubes down if they are over 2 inches.

There are a couple of clues in terms of the tubes. The male's will be pointy, almost V shaped. Often there will be a black spot towards the tail where the tube comes out. The female will have a blob shaped tube. Basically, she has to pass eggs out while all he does is squirt sperm.

Hey Chris ,

guess I should have just called you and asked. Thanks for advice and the fish. I will give you a call one of these nights so we can talk fish.